New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-05
rs 1T REFORM?

| Enter the Reformcrs. Business is hesitating,
and they propose to give it more reason Tor
hesitation Wool is so low that the number OF
sheep has declined several millions; the Re-
formers propose to take off all the duties so
that still lower prices may further diminish
production. Iron is low and hcSitating; the
Reformcrs propose to make it 90 stu lower by
taking off more duties. Imports have been
large enough the past year to deprive 100000
Americans of support from that industry alone {;
! RcfOrmers propose to increase the number by
inviting stHl larger imports So of other great
industries all that in any measure depend upon
defence against foreign competition are to-day
affected by apprehension. The frec-tradc Re
formers propose to give them all something to
justify their fears.
This is the only logical inference from the
nomination Of Mr.. Carlisle by the Democratic
caucus 1t would have been easy, had a sulli-
Gent number Of Democrats chosen to oppose
his known policy. to prevent his election as
Speaker on the very sufficient ground that his
seat was contested. Indeed the election of a
member under such circumstances is particu-
larly unfortunate and msavOry thing, which the
majority would hardly have preferred had it
not been paSSonatcly anxious TO carry out Mr..
Carislc's plan. For his plans are those of the
Administration, and the party begins to realize
that it has got to take position for its PrcSl-
dent who will be lis candidate next year.
Already Mr. WattciSOn laborS to convince the
brethren that Ncw-Iorll was carried for free
trade last month and that Ncw-Jcrscy and
Connecticut can be carried as easily, 50 that
the patty need have no fear.
II ,.f IL, flo ,.,t,
isothcrmalS This latest manifestation marks
the December temperature Of Democratic re-
form at Washington, ard everybody knows
that as the weather there gets hotter Reform
Of the free trade sort will get colder. If no
mischicvous bill gets passed before next May,
there is considerable probability that none
viii be passed at all. But the Administration
will start the agitation carly. and it would not
be strange if its influence should be great with
party led by oficc-holdcrs and olliccScckcrs.
Thirty years ago Mr. Buchanan sent his party
to defeat for a generation by using his patron
age as Southern frcc-tradc leaders demanded.
Some Of The same Southern men arc Mr.. Clcvc-
lands most trusted advisers
Mr.. Carlisle viii be elected and will fix the
committees in the interest Of free trade. 50
much has long been folcSccn. 1t is to be hoped
that those interesting iron and other nlanu-
facturcrs who were induced to help or not to
hinder Mr.. Clcyollnd'S election, upon solemn
assurances that he was as good protcctioniSt
as anybody could wish, will be satisfied with
their work. \ scanty and apparently hcSitatng
Democratic minority in the House, which would
be instantly ovcrpOwcrcd but for the almost
solid Republican vote in defence Of home in
dustricS and 4 scanty Republican majority in
the Senate only stand between those industries
and all the mischief that free tr1dcrs can make.
Millions have been invested at the South within
the past two years, and millions more at the
North, in the belief that the Democratic party
had leaned something during the thirty years
that have elapsed since Buchanan's time. II
would be costly thing for those investors, and
in the end for the democratic party, TO have
that impression dispcllcd by the action Of Con-
gross this year.